The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-05-19
4 prRrIous NIGHT.


In an interview with one Of Hillsboro's
oldest and most reliable citizens, he re-
lated to me the following incident: II
am now quite an old man, and the Incl.
dent 1 am going to relate happened
many, many years ago, while was little
more than boy. At that early day
facilities for travelling had not advanced
beyond the old time stage coach /; and
the roar OF the railway train, and the
hoarse whistle OF the locomotive had
not yet awakened the echoes Of our tram
quill valleys. But I was not even giving
myself the luxury of stage-coach travel,
I was on horseback, and alone. 1t was
on dark and drizzly February evening,
and the shadows were fast falling, that I
came riding toward L. from the
West. I was riding magnificent speci-
men of the far.famed Kentucky saddle
horse q horse whose power and agility
had been the wonder OF ever rural neigh
borhood where he had been known. He
was black as coal, and 80 high spirited
that one did not dare, usually, to touch
him with whip. l had arrived within
mile Of l., and was beginning to
descend the long slope, which at that
time led tU the hill down which the
road at last reached the river bottom,
and led up the bottom to the town Of
l.. As came down the slope
saw at some distance two men coming
up the hill. As they came nearer I
noticed that they both rode splendid
horses, and that they were apparently
expensively dressed. When within per-
haps a hundred yards of them, the mud
being deep, began gradually to rein
my horse to the right. They immedi-
ately began turning to the same side.
We were yet so far apart that I did not
notice their action with any apprehen-
sion, and turned my horse toward the
left. They reined again 80 as to confront
me. By this time we were getting
close together. l turned back to the
right, and again 1 found them barring
my passage. As turned once more to
the left, we were almost touching each
other. They quickly attempted to ar
range their horses across the road in
front OF me; but as they turned, their
horses necessarially separated until I
saw chance to 60 between them. Up
to this time had not touched my whip,
and not word had been spoken. As I
turned my horses head toward the
opening, struck him q sharp blow.
Stung by the cutting lash of the rawhide,
I think he must have jumped twenty
five feet. The leap was 30 sudden and
irresistible that my knee struck one Of
their horses heads and almost dragged
me from the saddle. As my horse sprang
away, almost with the speed of bullet,
l looked back. They had wheeled as if
to follow, and one of them called out
"Shall I stop him ?" "You'll not stop
him!" called back as sped away
down the slope. and toward L.. In
a few minutes drew rein in front Of a
respectable looking public house, with
its inevitable sign swinging in the wind.
The landlord came to the door, and in
answer to my question as to whether
he could keep me during the night, re-
piled that he could keep me; but that
he had no room for my horse. in.
sisted that he might find place for my
horse but after he had shown me the
miserable pen where my horse must stay
if he kept me, was content to receive
his direction to another house. He
seemed reluctant to recommend it; but
seeing no alternative, I rode on up the
street to the house he had pointed out
1t was a large brick house of three
stories, and was built very close to the
river. So close, in fact, that the rive1
being high, the water was now dashine
against the stone wall upon which the
house was built. Forty or fifty feel
further up was a stable built upon the
same wall. As I rode up, the landlord
made his appearance, and in answer Il
my question told me in badly broker
English that he could keep me. Aftel
asking the question, felt like backing
out as / took in the makeup of the mar
before me. He was short, thickse1
man, with heavy, coarse black beard
cropped close, malignant and repulsiv,
features, small black deep,set eyes, ant
, altogether the most villainous looking
, face I ever beheld. turned my hors
/ toward the stable which was but fev
steps away, and alighted at its door. +,
I took down my saddle.bags, which q
that time all travellers carried. He tool
!. my horse, and giving him close AM
!. admiring scrutiny, proceeded to put hin
into the stable. As / have said, m
. horse attracted the admiration of every
!. one, and my outfit Of saddle and bridl
}. were new and expensive, and he ev
IDENTIFY took me for man of far NOR
! means than possessed. After he ha
V finished attending to my horse, v
1 walked back to the house, and I CAV
!. him my saddle-bags. Unfortunately
|. left them locked, and they were vei
4 heavy, containing, besides some clothin
. q supply OF bread and cheese, with whic
i my good old aunt had kindly filed then
\ two days before, ON my leaving her hon
4 in central Indiana. He took them a
y weighed them In his hand - he wake